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Posted on Sun Sep 20th, 2026 @ 10:01pm by Captain Mira Rodale Lance & Commander Kevin Lance & Lieutenant Betaras K'ner

2,744 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Starbase 364
Location: Starbase 364
Timeline: Present

On:

{USS Chuck Norris/ BS 364 }

“She fainted.” Rodriguez folded his arms over his chest as he nodded.

Chin raised an eyebrow. “Our Captain doesn’t faint.”

Rodriguez frowned. “I saw Awal carrying her to medical, then the kids returned to their quarters. She is pregnant.”

That just made Chin frown. “No. What is it with you and the Captain being pregnant?” He thumped Rodriguez on the chest with a PADD. “She isn’t. You keep talking about her and you will find yourself assigned to extra duties.”

Now it was Rodriguez’s turn to frown.

{USS Chuck Norris medical bay}

Mira cracked one eye open then opened the other one as she looked around in disbelief. “Are we on the Norris?”

A nurse nodded handing her a cup of raktajino. “We are and Montgomery has released the crew to the base for some free time before we leave on our next mission.”

Mira sat up carefully, then took the raktajino while the nurse gave her a small report on the ship and crew.

Her brain was trying to remember what had happened to her. She was sure she hadn’t overdid anything. All she had done was hold Jason while she was talking to… Kevin. Her breath caught

She only remembered him saying he was happy she had gotten Jason. He didn’t say if he was coming back or if he wanted his freedom. Actually she didn’t remember too much after that. Mira’s eyes met with the nurse. “How did I end up in Sickbay, again?”

“You fainted.”

Mira shook her head no. “I don’t faint.”

“Then you suffered an episode of syncope,” the nurse told her before turning to walk away.

Mira frowned as she sipped her raktajino. She was going to need to look up that medical term.

{Corridor heading to Sickbay}

“Commander, wait up.” Montgomery told Kevin as he moved swiftly to him. “there are a few things you should know. One Star Fleet command received a credible report that you requested medical leave and …..” he rubbed the back of his neck. “that you need time away from your family. Mira didn’t believe it and fought for you. An application for separation was filed by a man that looked just like you. Mira refused to sign it. You will need to file what changes you truly want. Also there is a video attached to one of the haz suits you should probably see as well. It’s Mira’s injury. “ Montgomery gave him a nod before walking away.

Kevin processed the information. Some things he had learned once he had been transported over to Mira’s ship a couple of days earlier. The rest was news to him. He rubbed his neck as he considered all of the damage control that would be required to straighten out their lives and relationship. “Zephram,” he cursed, “We just can’t buy a break.”

{Sickbay}

Kevin walked through the doors of the sick bay and smiled when he saw Mira. His chin and cheeks were darkened by a couple of days growth of his beard. “Ah… you’re awake.” He said in a jovial tone, “and it appears that you are healthy enough that K’ner is permitting the unregulated use of stimulants.”

They both heard the muted ‘harumph’ in the background.

He walked to the side of her bed and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. The action betrayed the concern that his words and tone masked.

Mira’s eyes widened in shock at seeing Keven after so many months. She opened her mouth to say something but the nurse called out.

“She gets one small cup. I was just about to bring her a tray of food. She hasn’t eaten in over 24 hours. Since you’re here, I’ll place her in your care.”

Mira head whipped around to look at the nurse. “This doesn’t count as a decent cup of coffee.”

“You’ll never get an argument from me that raktajino doesn’t count as a decent cup,” Kevin teased.

The nurse mouthed ‘one small cup’ again as she demonstrated a small gap between thumb and forefinger… just as a voice from the small CMO’s office calls out, “CUP, SMALL, Standard Issue, 1 each.”

Kevin smiled at the exchange as he walked over to the replicator. “Computer, prepare a meal,” he ordered, “T-Bone Steak. 450 grams. Medium. Large Baked Russet Potato with butter, sour cream, bacon, and cheddar cheese. Cooked Spinach and Beets. Include flatware. Execute.”

The computer dutifully created the specified meal and it quickly appeared in the replicator’s phased transition chamber. Kevin took the tray and maneuvered a rolling table to Mira’s bed. He placed the tray with the steaming food before her.

“Are you going to be a good patient and eat the food that you have been prescribed?” He asked in a serious tone. “Or will I need to feed you like Ashla?”

Mira looked at the food, Kevin had picked all of her favorite foods. It was just too much of it. Her eyes flicked up from the food to Kevin. “I have never been a good patient. I don’t intend to be now. I seriously doubt the nurse wishes to clean the floor or bathe me after a meal either.” Mira picked up the knife and fork cutting off small portions of the food she planned to try to eat. Then started to cut them into small bite-size pieces.

Kevin smiled in satisfaction as he settled into a chair next to her bed. "So, what shall we talk about?"

Her PADD beeped so she ignored it. It beeped again. She didn’t answer. The kids were with Awal and his wife so it wasn’t them. Kevin was in the room with her so that eliminated him. There was no one else she needed to talk to. It beeped again. She didn’t look up at Kevin. Just ate slowly. Then the console went off next to her. Mira’s eyes flicked to it, then back down at her food.

The nurse answered it, then looked over at Mira. “It’s a message for you.”

Mira frowned. “Forward it to the captain.”

“It’s Captain Larken.”

Mira frowned. “There isn’t a reason for him to be contacting me when I am on medical leave.”

The nurse pushed the blanket over to dig out Mira’s PADD then activated it. Handing it too her. “He still needs to talk to you.”

Kevin shook his head in annoyance but didn't intervene.

=/\= Mira, you’re a hard person to get ahold of. You missed the Captain’s meeting this morning.=/\= His crisp, clean voice came over the transmission clearly.

“I didn’t attend.” Mira told him, never mind the part about her being in Sickbay or that she wasn’t even captain right now. He wasn’t worth telling all that to. Montgomery had attended so whatever. It saved her the trouble of sitting though a boring meeting .

=/\= Yes……. I wanted to talk about our assignments.=/\=

Mira frowned, pushing food around on her plate. “What about it?”

=/\= Would you like to trade?=/\=

Mira raised an eyebrow. She had no idea what he was talking about. “I am sure Montgomery is the one you need to talk to.” She reached over to deactivate the connection but he continued talking.

=/\=“Do you really want another diplomat mission?”=/\=

Mira closes her eyes. She hated diplomat missions. “Why what were you assigned?”

=/\= A boring escort mission to a neutral planet close to Klingon space. My first officer isn’t back yet, so it completely messes with the time planned to leave by the Colonists.=/\=

Mira tapped her finger tips on the food tray as she thought “what planet?” She asked just a little curious wondering if they could get a little R&R in one this mission.

=/\= Degma=/\=

Mira bit her lip, thinking of what she remembered about the world. The Romulans had started a ground outpost and opened it up to anyone that wanted a new home. It had been an unusual move for the Romulans.

“Why?” She asked trying to see what the catch was.

There was a heavy sigh =/\= It’s boring. I have had my fill of boring missions.=/\=

"Only thing worse than boring duty," Kevin opined, "is exciting duty."

Mira rolled her eyes, of course a new captain wanted some excitement to make a name for himself. “What’s my mission?’ She asked.

=/\= Vulcan and Andoria meeting. You know how they never get along and since your last mission with them went south I thought maybe...=/\=

Mira closed her eyes again, thinking this would be an amazing time to take a nap. “You will still have to clear it with Montgomery. I would not be opposed to a simple escort mission.”

=/\= Great, I'll work with Montgomery on this. Thank you so much. =/\= he ended the transmission

Mira sighed. “Should I have gotten a bottle of something from him?” She looked down at her food before stabbing her fork into a piece of meat.

"Larken is young and naive for a Captain," Kevin replied, "Even without a promise, you should be able to wheedle a favor or two from him for this. And avoiding a diplomatic mission between emotionally polar opposites is an awfully attractive proposition. We'll get our fill of Andorians in three months time."

Mira gave Kevin a quizzical look. "Shen's wedding," he explained as she continued to eat, "Saving my backside in the Mirror Universe reinforced the debt that I owe him for being my best man at our wedding."

"Andorian wedding traditions are rather peculiar as I recall."

"Very," Kevin grimaced, "but Shen assures me that we will be spared the more esoteric parts, including the bedding ceremony."

Mira's expression was one of horror.

"Including aliens in the wedding party is provocative enough according to Shen, but allowing us to participate in the bedding ceremony would cause a riot."

“A riot?” Mira raised an eyebrow, a little confused about why that would happen but she didn’t ask. “Is he in love with any of the 3 people he is getting married to?”

“No, he isn’t” Kevin answered, “Certainly not the female that he is betrothed to. The other couple in the ceremony, as I understand it from Shen, are proxies to ensure the main couple’s union with and devotion to Andorian society and culture. It’s rather like the tradition of god-parents on old Earth."

Mira’s PADD beeped again, she turned it off with a roll of her eyes after she saw who was messaging her. “I think I am going to have a relapse.” She tossed an arm over her eyes as she slid down into the bed. She had made it almost to be completely under the table laying across the bed. Her food growing cold now.

A voice could be heard outside of the medical bay. “She is my ward Montgomery, I wish to check in on her.”

Kevin rolled his eyes and stood up. “I’ll handle this,” he told her as he turned to depart the sickbay.

As he expected, the Caitian Ambassador, M’Niras, was standing outside, looming over the second officer. His ears were flattened towards his skull and his tail was twitching noticeably. “You have no right to prevent me from seeing her.”

“He has every right,” Kevin interjected, “He currently has the conn and it is his decision whom is allowed aboard the ship as a guest. As for seeing the Captain, she is currently resting and the Doctor’s orders are that she is not to be disturbed.”

K'ner stepped into the ambassador's view behind Kevin, calm but stern in her stance.

“As Mira’s guardian,” the Ambassador hissed, “I have a duty to ensure her physical well-being.”

“Captain Rodale Lance has passed the Federation age of legal majority and is no longer considered your ward,” Kevin pointed out. Even at his height, Kevin had to tilt his head upward to lock eyes with the Caitian. “But even IF we were to apply the more archaic traditions, my position as her husband has precedence over yours as a guardian.”

“You filed for divorce,” M’Niras countered.

Kevin forced his face to remain passive and thanked Cochran that Montgomery had given him advanced information. “I did not,” Kevin replied coolly, “that was a falsehood perpetrated by those whom would do harm to Mira and myself.” Kevin stared pointedly at the Ambassador.

M’Niras let out a low growl and his tail twitched faster.

“But until that matter is adjudicated, which it never will be, I am still her husband. And I say that you don’t get to see her.”

“With Captain Rodale convalescing," Kevin continued, "I am the commander of this ship. You are aboard as a guest but are insisting on violating my orders and those of my proxies,” His head nodded towards Montgomery, “Your attempts to gain access to a patient that has been placed under medical protection are a challenge to the Capitan’s authority. Something the real Ambassador M’Niras would never do.”

This caught the Ambassador off-guard. His eyes narrowed and his eyes rotated forward. Wariness replaced anger in his voice. “What do you mean?”

“There had been plenty of mischief instigated by dopplegangers. I believe that you are one of them.”

Before the Caitian could reply, Kevin tapped his comm badge. “Commander Kronnelti, bring a security team to the sickbay. I have a prisoner that needs to be detained.”

“Detained?” M’Niras’ voice went shrill, “I am an Ambassador of the Federation. You can’t detain me.”

The distance between the security office and the sick bay was negligible and the Chief of Security was already approaching with two security guards.

“That would be true if I believed that you were truly Ambassador M’Niras,” Kevin held the Caitian’s attention from the advancing security detail, “but I have reason to believe that you are an imposter and a threat to the Captain, this ship, and the Federation.”

Kevin nodded to the security detail who clamped hands on the Caitian’s arms and shoulders. Kevin watched the Caitian’s eyes darting back and forth, calculating the likelihood of defeating five Star Fleet officers. For an instant, Kevin believed that M’Niras would attack but then his pose softened and his frown deepened.

“You’ll pay for this Commander Lance,” M’Niras growled.

“Put it on my tab,” Kevin quipped using a phrase that he had heard Mira use in bars from Deep Space Nine to Risa, “Take him to the brig.” The security detail directed M’Niras who moved with as much dignity as the situation allowed.

“That is going to piss off the Admiral,” Montgomery pointed out once the detail was out of sight.

Kevin shrugged. “It will, once he finds out. But we will need to exercise due diligence before we report this incident. Let’s make one-hundred percent certain that the Ambassador is who he says he is before we report. And take your time about it.”

Montgomery smiled wolfishly, “Understood sir.”

As Kevin turned to re-enter the bay, he saw K'ner stepping to the side, just inside the door. She stopped and gave him a nod as he passed. It looked like she was going to stand watch, given all the hullabaloo.


{Sickbay }

There was a small laugh. “You’re safe. Looks like Commander Lance had who ever that was taken some place.

Mira moved the blanket and uncovered her eyes “he left?” Mira looked confused. That Caitian never would have taken no for an answer. “Odd but good.” Mira said as she set back up looking at the food as she bit her lip.

“You done with this?" The question had been a surprise to the captain.

Mira nodded slowly.

“Well you ate more than I thought you would. How about a Parfait?” the nurse asked.

Mira raised an eyebrow but nodded yes.

“Just eat what you want of it. It will take time to get used to eating normally again.”

Mira frowned but took the cup, curling up under the blanket to get comfortable.


Tags


OFF:

Lt Betaras K’ner
Hazard Team Combat Medic TL-B / CMO
USS Chuck Norris

&

Captain Mira Rodale Lance
CO USS Chuck Norris

&

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

 

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